Cumberlands Alumni Magazine - Fall 2023

FALL 2023

A LA UL M A GA AG ZA IZNI EN E UN M IN IM M

MEMOR IES OF AN

ALL-STAR COACH

TERRY STIGALL, ’75

Features 12 HOMECOMING Honoring Traditions and Making Memories MINDSET 18 GROWTH Dan Stack, ’11

ON THE COVER Our coaches, professors, pastors, and other mentors in our lives sometimes become like parents to us. They call us up and ask about our lives, listen to our thoughts, and guide us with wise counsel, life stories, and even plain ol’ good jokes.

We can all use extra “moms” and “dads” in our lives to help us weather life’s storms and navigate the twists and turns. Those mentors deserve celebration.

The late Terry H. Stigall, ’75, longtime baseball coach and professor at Cumberlands, was a father figure to many, especially the men he coached. But it wasn’t only his coaching that impacted these alumni, it was the fact that, after they graduated, he would call them on the phone just to check in. They would talk about each other’s families, how work was going, and so forth – and inevitably the conversation would eventually turn to baseball. As Guy Franklin, ’90, said, “They were never short conversations, they were always an hour, hour and a half.

Very personal. He was a good man. I’ll miss those conversations.”

In this issue, we take some time to share about Coach Stigall’s life and legacy. He served Cumberlands faithfully for most of his life, impacting many lives through his work. May his passing be a reminder to us all to cherish the people around us, thank our mentors for their guidance, and pick up the phone and call the people we love.

Continued on page 10 2 | FALL 2023

AND FRUIT 20 FAMILY Anna (Clemenz) Moehling, ’07, Brandon Moehling, ’06, Heather (Skaggs) Moehling, ’07, and Robert K . Moehling, ’08

IN THE GAPS 24 FILLING Eric Lowe, ’07 CORBIN, W'BURG TEACHER APPEARS ON 26 FORMER WHEEL OF FORTUNE DURING TEACHER'S WEEK Sarah (Steely) Shelley, ’06, MAE ’09

28 Q&A Dr. Charles "Christian" Key, ’02 WITH JOSH 30 PHISHING Josh Coffman, ’19

In Every Issue 6 32 35

Campus News Class Notes Cumberlands Couple

36 36 38

In Memoriam Patriot Salute Then & Now

College Friends We gathered at a mountain diner, On a fall Friday night, Old friends coming together, The mood was happy and bright.

It had been a long, long time, For some friends we had not seen, This reunion of Cumberland Indians, Remembering the old college scene.

ing ecom

Hom

2023

We tried to cover many years, With laughs along the way, Our spouses right in the mix, Hearing stories of college days.

Talking about the past forty years, And what our friendship means, Taking over the restaurant, In Cumberland sweatshirts and jeans.

We plan to gather again, With more stories yet to tell, This reunion of Cumberland Indians, But for now, we bid farewell.

John Warren McCauley, ’81 Picture Above Front row: Marlene (Elllison) Shealy, ’81, Cindy (Wilkerson) Richey, ’81 Back: Becky McCauley, John McCauley, ’81, Kathy Harris, Mike Harris, ’82

CHANCELLOR Dr. Jerry Jackson, EdD ʼ11

SENIOR EDITOR Gabrielle Mellendorf

STUDENT WRITER Hannah Schadler, ʼ27

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Dr. Leslie C. Ryser, PhD ʼ22

SENIOR WRITER Sarah (Rainous) Shelley, ʼ17, MACS ʼ21

The opinions expressed within articles do not necessarily represent the views of the administration but are intended to foster open dialogue and lifelong learning among the Cumberlands community. We welcome your feedback; email alumni@ucumberlands.edu.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ALUMNI RELATIONS Erica Harris, ʼ84 ALUMNI DIRECTOR Paul Stepp, ʼ12, MSISS ʼ17 VICE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS Andrew Powell

RESEARCH Kelsey (Day) Infield, ʼ13, MACS ʼ15 PHOTOGRAPHER AND ATHLETICS EDITOR William Turner, ʼ21 DIGITAL CONTENT Patrick Blevins

CUMBERLANDS ALUMNI MAGAZINE | 3

DEAR ALUMNI, While the deep chill of late fall has yet to set in, the feeling is here. The beautiful fall leaves and pumpkin-filled porches have been replaced with crisp air and Christmas wreaths. I love this time of year! Especially on campus.

As I write this letter, the semester is still in full swing. I see students walking across the viaduct, professors teaching in front of classrooms, and staff working in offices, recital halls, athletics facilities, or even outdoors. Yet, by the time you read this, finals will have passed, and we will already be gearing up for the spring semester. It’s hard to believe how fast time passes!

After an exciting fall that welcomed students back to campus and alumni back for Homecoming, we have much to be grateful for.

In a time when many colleges and universities are facing declining enrollment, our enrollment has climbed to 20,000+ students. Though inflation continues to rise, we have been able to keep tuition costs among the lowest in the nation, enabling more students to afford an education.

Your passion for supporting the university is incredible as you continue to demonstrate your commitment to the

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success of our students and your alma mater. It has a lasting impact!

All of your support – whether it is sharing your professional experience with students, nominating fellow alumni for awards, following Cumberlands on social media, or providing financial support – is greatly appreciated.

Through Indian Spirit and Patriot Pride, we recognize our alumni have each had a unique experience with Cumberlands, no matter what year you graduated or what field you studied. Our unique UC experiences make up a whole lot of love for this university!

As life moves forward, I hope you will remember the reason for this Christmas season and take time to cherish the good moments, give thanks, and remain hopeful!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

ERICA BROOME HARRIS, ’84 Executive Director of Alumni Service

Thank You!

1,987 Donors

$360,00+ Total Raised

We would love to feature your photos from around the world, highlighting the amazing places you have visited. All alumni are invited to request one FREE pennant so you can show Cumberlands to the world. Share your adventures with fellow alumni, just like Sibyl Casey, ’80, and Charlotte Asher Dupier, ’80, who traveled to Salem, Massachusetts in September. lotte Asher y, ’80, & Char

Sibyl Case

chusetts

Salem, Massa

Dupier, ’80

Request your FREE pennant by emailing alumni@ucumberlands.edu and remember to tag @ucumberlands when posting to social.

CUMBERLANDSNEWS 100% PASSED

PATENT APPROVED

Every physician assistant (PA) student from Cumberlands – including both campuses – in the most recent graduating cohorts passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) this spring. It marked the second year for the Williamsburg campus to see a 100% pass rate, the second year in a row for the Northern Kentucky campus.

Nasmin Jiwani and Ketan Gupta, doctoral students at Cumberlands, have developed a new smart device for measuring heart rate and respiratory rate that has been officially approved for a patent.

“A lot of hard work and dedication is poured into the program, and it is incredibly satisfying to see our graduates be successful,” said Blair Whitaker, PAC, director of the NKY PA program. “This 100% pass rate speaks to the quality of the education delivered by the faculty and the commitment of our students.”

“I am so proud of the recent graduates' accomplishment,” said Dana Campbell, PhD, PA-C, director of the PA program in Williamsburg. “They put in hard work, and their dedication during the 27 rigorous months of the program has paid off.”

In addition, PA students from our Northern Kentucky campus placed 3rd in the AAPA National Medical Challenge Bowl. The AAPA (American Academy of Physician Associates) National Medical Challenge Bowl is an annual competition in which PA students from around the country participate in what is essentially a game show to test their knowledge on various medical subjects. Questions cover physical diagnosis, microbiology, anatomy, OB/ GYN, pulmonary, cardiology, primary care, emergency medicine, and surgery. PA students from our NKY Campus competed against 88 other teams.

The new “CardioRespi Monitor” can identify abnormal heart rates and respiratory patterns with high accuracy, monitor overall health and fitness levels, and detect potential health issues.

Especially for individuals who struggle with heart or respiratory health, the device has the potential to be an invaluable asset for them and their doctors.

As Jiwani explained, “The device utilizes state-of-the-art electronic components to measure and record heart rate and respiratory rate in real time. By collecting data from the user's body through optical sensors or a chest strap, the device transmits this information to a smartphone or laptop for comprehensive analysis and monitoring.”

The patent for the CardioRespi Monitor was officially approved by the Government of India in summer 2023. An artistic rendering of the invention resembles a typical blood pressure cuff, but the smart device contains far more – and more complex – technology.

The monitor boasts several unique features, including an innovative sound wave sensor for real-time rate determination, AI-based natural language processing technology for seamless voice interaction, and IoT-based optical sensors for real-time data collection and transmission.

Follow the latest ucumberlands.edu/news 6 | FALL 2023

Jiwani added, “By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning, the device can predict patterns and abnormalities in heart and respiratory rates, enabling the early identification of critical diseases.”

Nasmin Jiwani worked in tandem with Ketan Gupta, also a doctoral Cumberlands student, to develop the CardioRespi Monitor. Jiwani, a specialist in AI and IT, conducted an in-depth study to pinpoint the issue and establish goals for creating the smart device. She spent time creating a cutting-edge machine-learning system that analyzes real-time patient data and sends it to IoT-based technology for precise interpretation, and she conducted a risk analysis and segregated risk parameters. Meanwhile, Gupta, an expert in AI and machine learning, worked extensively on design, analysis, and advanced neural networks that can identify hidden patterns, examine image pixels, and classify them appropriately.

He also worked on IoT functionality for data transmission to authorized devices. Additionally, Gupta added NLP capabilities to an algorithm using machine learning that analyzes sound waves to calculate heart and breathing rates and help doctors forecast the likelihood of a heart attack and respiratory failure in the coming years.

The idea sparked for Jiwani and Gupta right after the height of COVID-19.

Research showed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, death rates increased substantially in cases of patients with preexisting cardiovascular diseases.

CYBER LEAGUE Cumberlands students competed in the National Cyber League (NCL) Spring 2023 Competition, placing in the top 1 percent of competitors nationwide. Out of more than 7,820 students, between the individual and team-based events, Cumberlands students placed No. 78 nationally. Cumberlands was one of 450 colleges and universities who competed.

The university would like to recognize the following students for their performance during the NCL Spring 2023 Competition: Daniel Ruiz Ramis, ’23, Hannah Tan, ’22, MSCE ’23, Matt Burns, ’23, Johnathon MacNevin, ’23, David Ball, ’23, Dorian Bachlaj, and Britton Bryant. Well done, Patriots! Team sponsor/coach was Seth Gilliam, ’18, MSIT ’21, administrative assistant for the School of Computer Information Sciences at the university.

Gilliam coordinated meetings, ensured all students were properly registered for the event, and so on.

Per the National Cyber League, “The NCL, powered by Cyber Skyline, is a cybersecurity skills competition that contains real-world cybersecurity tasks that professionals perform on a daily basis. Students who participate in the NCL reinforce their learning and develop the necessary skills for the workforce.

Students also earn a skills report that recognizes their abilities and can be shown to an employer to demonstrate the student’s readiness for the job, further bridging the gap from curriculum to careers.”

Ken Sims, associate professor at Cumberlands, remarked on the

importance of giving students the opportunity to solve problems like the ones they will encounter in the “real world” as part of their education, which can be hard to reproduce in lecture. By facing real-world challenges individually and coming up with workable solutions within a set time frame, students build confidence in their abilities to apply the theory they’re learning in class to the kinds of obstacles they’ll face in the workforce. That kind of experience is vital when students are seeking new IT jobs or promotions for current jobs.

GOLD Globee® Manvitha Gali, a doctoral student at Cumberlands, recently won a gold Globee® Award as the 2023 Professional of the Year in the category of Security Cloud/SaaS. Manvitha earned the award in part due to the work she contributed toward a research paper entitled “A Distributed Deep Meta Learning Based Task Offloading Framework for Smart City Internet of Things with Edge-Cloud Computing,” which she co-authored with Aditya Mahamkali, also a doctoral student at Cumberlands.

“Receiving the Globee® Award is an extraordinary achievement that fills me with immense pride and gratitude,” said Manvitha. “It is a validation of my dedication, expertise, and commitment to excellence in my field. This esteemed recognition serves as a significant milestone in my professional journey, reaffirming that hard work and passion can truly lead to remarkable outcomes.

It inspires me to continue pushing boundaries, embracing innovation, and

making a positive impact in my industry.

Receiving this award is an honor.”

Both Manvitha and Aditya are currently pursuing PhDs in information technology at the university. Manvitha is a senior lead software engineer and researcher for HCL America Inc. and Verizon in Dallas, TX, and Aditya is an associate with Goldman Sachs based in Richardson, TX. Manvitha Gali has made contributions in areas such as healthcare IoT (Internet of Things), Deep Learning, and Edgecloud computing. Currently, she has two patents for which she is the main inventor: Hybrid Task Offload Framework for Heterogeneous Clouds” and “A Method and a System for Detecting a Malicious Attack on a Network.” Manvitha has been recognized as an industry expert for the TITAN Business Awards and the Globee® Awards, and she received a Best Paper Award in 2022 in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results. She has more than eight years of professional experience and has been actively involved in the development and testing of IoT solutions. Manvitha has expertise in working with firmware applications, tracking applications and testing the service quality to ensure the smooth operation of IoT devices. In addition, she serves as a teaching assistant at the University of Houston Clear Lake, mentoring undergraduate students and evaluating their work. She has published research in the Journal of Internet Services and Information Security, and she presented research at the 2022 World Conference on Multidisciplinary Research & Innovation (WCMRI).

CUMBERLANDS ALUMNI MAGAZINE | 7

CAMPUSRENOVATIONS Over the past few years, Cumberlands’ administration has prioritized the addition of new hangout spaces for students, including swings, hammocking poles, tables and chairs (complete with umbrellas for shade), and outdoor benches. The newest outdoor additions are a large sign on the Wellness Center lawn that spells out “HOME” and a new parking lot directly across the street from Hutton Hall. A new “Patriot Pride” sign lights up a wall in the mid-level Boswell Campus Center.

T. J. ROBERTS DINING HALL

The cafeteria’s atrium was renovated in summer 2022, with the rest of the cafeteria getting an update in summer of 2023. Outdoor seating has been added as well, giving students an option to kill time and enjoy a good meal out in the fresh air. The cafeteria still boasts all its typical buffet items, from grilled burgers and hot dogs, to baked chicken and roasted veggies, to a fresh salad bar and – you guessed it – hot pizza, fresh out of the oven. The dish return area has been updated as well; think of a carousel, but with rows of empty trays waiting for your dishes. And for anyone who wondered, yes, the ice cream machine is still there!

BOSWELL CAMPUS CENTER

The middle level of the Boswell Campus Center (BCC) has been completely renovated. New carpeting and furniture adorn the space, giving students plenty of comfortable seating and study tables. (Of course, the amount of studying that actually happens there is debatable. But that’s what the newly renovated library is for.) One wall in the BCC is covered with a mega TV, perfect for watching movies, sporting events, or video games. The campus bookstore and post office have been moved within the space so students can utilize the common area better. And by “utilize,” we’re including the intense ping-pong games and billiards trick shots happening daily.

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DOYLE BUHL STADIUM

No more grass stains for the Patriots baseball players – or, at least, not for the infielders. Astroturf has replaced the infield of the baseball field, giving the stadium a fresh new look with easier upkeep.

WRESTLING

Renovations are still underway for the men’s wrestling gym, an addition onto the Luecker Building. The gym has been greatly expanded to give our wrestlers plenty of space for practices and workouts.

CUMBERLANDS ALUMNI MAGAZINE | 9

h c a o C niversity of the Cumberlands Hall of Fame Baseball Coach and Former Professor, Terry Stigall, ʼ75, passed away peacefully on October 19, 2023, at the age of 73. Stigall worked at the university for 43 years and coached exactly 1,000 games.

In 2003, Stigall was inducted into the Cumberlands Athletic Hall of Fame for his contributions as a coach. He guided Cumberlands to five KIAC conference championships, had six KIAC runner-up finishes, and was the KIAC Coach of the Year three times. He had 82 players earn all-conference honors and ten players sign professional contracts.

In addition to coaching, Stigall was hired for a full-time teaching position in the health department.

Growing up in Perryville, Kentucky, Stigall attended Boyle County Schools, graduating from Boyle County High School where he was later inducted into the Boyle County Athletics Hall of Fame.

He said in a 2018 interview, “Between recruiting, coaching, practice, and a full teaching schedule, I was busy all the time, but it didn’t bother me at all. I enjoyed it! It was a great experience.”

He transferred to Cumberland College in 1971 on a baseball scholarship. Wearing #23, pictured above, he was a “soft throwing” lefty with a fast curve ball. Stigall would become Cumberlands’ all-time single season saves leader and single season appearances leader.

In 2001, Stigall retired from coaching but continued teaching until May 2019.

In 1976, Terry Stigall, ’75, was appointed assistant baseball coach. Shortly into his time in this role, Dr. James Boswell, university president at the time, asked Stigall if he wanted to get his master’s degree. Stigall explained that while he did, he couldn’t afford to pay for it.

“My loyalty to the college really started then,” Stigall said in a 2018 interview, “because Dr. Boswell offered to pay for my master’s degree through the school. I got everything paid for. Dr. Boswell even let me borrow one of the college’s cars to get to my classes, and a school credit card to fill the car with gas. He was an unbelievably great person.”

A few years later, James Taylor, who succeeded Dr. Boswell as Cumberlands’ president, asked Stigall to coach the new softball team for their inaugural season. To sweeten the deal, he offered to recommend Stigall to the Board when the baseball team head coach, Walt Mathes, retired after the ʻ82 season. Stigall agreed, Taylor delivered, and in 1983 Terry Stigall accepted the position of head baseball coach. Over the next 19 years, his teams compiled a 502-298 record.

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“It’s been a good long run,” said Stigall during that time. “I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve been loyal to the school, I love the university, I love what Cumberlands stands for. I’m proud to have worked here all these years.”

Besides coaching and teaching, Stigall was most well-known for his love (really, fanaticism) of the Boston Red Sox. His father passed down his fandom of the Red Sox to him, and Stigall to his children. He could always be seen with a Red Sox pullover or baseball cap on, and he never missed an NESN game. In 2004, he got to see the Red Sox win a World Series for the first time in his life, something he always said he thought would never happen.

His Red Sox memorabilia covered the desk and walls of his Cumberlands office, spilling out into the hallway.

Stigall valued the people in his life above all. His goal was to treat everyone with kindness and respect, and he was absolute in his dedication to “doing things the right way.” He was a member of Pleasant View United Methodist Church and allowed his faith in God to be his rock. He will be sorely missed and dearly remembered by all who knew him.

Stigall is survived by his wife, Carol Stigall; brother, Woody Stigall; children, Adam Stigall (wife, Jessica) and Alicia McMillan (husband, Jesse); grandchildren, Shepard and Poppy Stigall; and Atreus, Kanaan, and Remy McMillin.

Memories of an All-Star Coach

Stats

1976 - 1980 1982 1983-2001 2003

Assistant Baseball Coach Head Softball Coach Head Baseball Coach Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee

#1 Single Season Saves #1 Single Season Appearances Coached 1,000 Games .644 Winning Percentage 502-298 Baseball Record 3-time KIAC Coach of the Year 10 Players signed professional contracts

Darlene Prewitt, ’85, reflected on her time as a softball player, “Coach Stigall was a great coach and friend. I enjoyed playing under his leadership and have many great memories. He was always an encouragement to the ladies on our team and led us to a successful 30-4 winning season. He was fundamental in establishing the softball program at University of the Cumberlands. Years later, he still enjoyed keeping track of our team members and always liked to keep in touch. He will be greatly missed.”

Guy Franklin, ’90, said it saddened him to hear of Coach Stigall’s passing. Guy had played for Stigall in the late ’80s and recalled one game in particular.

“The only time he ever took me out of a game was when he gave me a sign – we were losing at this point, by the way – and he gave me a sign not to swing, and I said to myself, ʻNo,’ and I swung,” Guy said. “I got a double. Thought I was the greatest thing since sliced bread. And then he benched me. I sat on the bench thinking, ʻYou know, I probably deserved that, my dad would’ve done the same thing.’

Coach was always like a father figure to me. Anyway, later, we were still losing, and we had runners on first and second, and he called me up. This time, I looked right at him. No sign. I looked at him again. He didn’t give it to me. I didn't follow his sign before, so he just didn't give me one this

time. Well, then I hit a three-run homer.

And as I'm going down third, where he was in the coach’s box, we looked at each other. And we both started laughing.”

They both remembered that moment for decades, with Stigall even telling the story on stage at Guy’s Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2021.

Ever since Guy’s graduation, they would call each other every now and then, catch up on life, work, and each other’s families, and inevitably talk about baseball.

“They were never short conversations,” Guy said, “they were always an hour, hour and a half. Very personal. He was a good man. I’ll miss those conversations.”

Head baseball coach Brad Shelton, MAE, ’08 said, "It's a sad day for our program, school and community. Coach Stigall loved his family, Cumberlands, and his former players. He was so welcoming to me when I got to UC, and he was always willing to help with alumni and fundraising events. As a high school player, I remember players from my area either wanted to be a Kentucky Wildcat or a Cumberland Indian. As a college player, I remember and respected how competitive Coach Stigall and his teams were. As the UC coach, I admire how his former players loved him."

CUMBERLANDS ALUMNI MAGAZINE | 11

HONORING TRADITIONS & MAKING MEMORIES

12 | FALL 2023

Cumberlands memories

“When I was in charge of CAB, we had to be extra creative. We couldn't have dancing back then, for one thing. We would have weird prizes for competitions and games. The students in CAB were wonderful. They were a great crew. Every one of them were good at logistics. They worked hard and got things done.”

- Debbie Harp, ʼ79 “My buddy and I were trying to get our girlfriendsʼ attention at Johnson (Gillespie) Hall. They were supposed to already be downstairs, and this was before there was a phone in every room.

We had tried calling, but every line was busy. They shared a room, and they had a window on the corner of the third floor, so we found some rocks and start tossing them up. Weʼre hitting the wall, hitting the wall, hitting the wall, and the one that finally hit the window… went through the window. And the girls looked out and came downstairs like, ʻYou broke our window!ʼ We were like, ʻUh, no, um, it must have just broke…

Weʼve been waiting out here hollering...ʼ But, now, I loved Ms. Jones, the house mom, so we asked to see her and were led back, and we said, ʻHey, Ms. Jones, we broke a window on the third floor.ʼ She said, ʻHow did you break one on the third floor? Youʼre not supposed to be in the rooms!ʼ We said, ʻOh, we werenʼt, we were outside.ʼ We offered to pay for it, but they took care of it. Anyway, Iʼm married to the girl now.”

- Jeff Clark, ʼ88 "My favorite time was being able to form a relationship with my teammates on and off the court. One memory that sticks out to me was the year we went camping at Cumberland Falls and horseback riding. The team bonding was important to me because I was far away from home and my family."

- Marla Harris, ʼ05

CUMBERLANDS ALUMNI MAGAZINE | 13

Cumberlands memories

“Wow. 50 years. Thatʼs a long time.

Itʼs with great pleasure that I stand before you today celebrating our 50th class reunion. Itʼs hard to believe half a century has passed since we walked this campus, but here we are. Our class was a time of profound change" - Pat (Smith) Stonecipher, ʼ73 “I remember coming into the gym when we would do class registration. It was a mess, and sometimes the classes would be filled up! You had this little catalog that you picked out with your last name.

The Hʼs through the Iʼs were at 12 oʼclock.

Seniors were first, then juniors. That way, seniors could get all the classes they needed. It was a big deal, registration.

Two or three days. This was the only gym back then, ball games were played on the floor, and the stage was for concerts. This is where we graduated.”

Creech-Boswell Society The Creech-Boswell Society was established in honor of two of Cumberlands' most beloved presidents: James Lloyd Creech and James Malcolm Boswell. This organization was formed to commemorate Cumberlands graduates on the 50th anniversary of their graduation from Cumberlands and in recognition of their commitment to the values upheld by this university.

As members of the Creech-Boswell Society, alumni enjoy a special luncheon and Cumberlands President meet-and-greet at Homecoming events, in addition to other benefits. This fall, graduates from the class of 1973 were inducted into the Society.

More than eighty alumni gathered to enjoy the induction and reception. It is a significant tradition that marks the achievement of a major milestone in the lives of Cumberlands alumni.

- Sharon (Jones) Haynes, ʼ73 “Dr. Boswell had a discretionary account, and he would cut checks for students if they really needed something. Going home for holidays, need a ride to the airport, those kinds of things. Everybody here was like that in those days. Iʼm not sure they would hire you if you werenʼt.

Dr. Broome was like that; I think heʼs the last of that era. Even the ones who were more focused and didnʼt talk to you as much, they would treat you like their own kid.”

- Dr. Vencil, ʼ82

Class of 1973 Back Row: Joe Gray, Randy Faulkner, Randall "Randy" Osborne, Ron Osborne, Buzz Carloftis, Lawrence Bailey Front Row: Brenda (Phillips) West, Barbara (Smith) Newman, Sharon (Jones) Haynes, Tina (Thornton) Parsons, Pat (Smith) Stoneciper, Axie (Mason) Faulkner, Patty (Magee) Bailey

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20 Questions

Pat (Smith) Stonecipher, '73, was a teacher for many years. In true teacher form, she wrote a fun quiz for her fellow 1973 classmates to take! The quiz jogged memories and sparked conversation throughout the Creech-Boswell Induction Ceremony. Do you know any of the answers?

1. What professor lived in Roburn Hall and drove a Gremlin?

2. How did Ms. Mac break her arm?

3. Why did Kenneth Shaw threaten to turn off the electricity in the gym one night?

4. Name 3 bands that gave a concert at Cumberland in the gym.

5. Where could you see Dr. Boswell early in the morning or late in the evening?

6. Where did freshman girls have to be between 7:00pm to 9:00pm 7. Who were the Madrigals and what did they do?

8. What two things did freshmen have to do during Freshman Week?

9. What year were girls allowed to wear pants on campus during the week?

10. What did the Pep Band play during basketball season, if the team was doing really well?

11. What sports were a part of coed intramurals?

12. What were the trike races, and who sponsored them?

13. Where were plays performed?

14. What year did the Boswell Student Center open?

15. What Kentucky governor visited the campus of Cumberland?

16. Why did some students on campus wear black armbands in 1970?

17. How were military draft lotteries conducted in 1969-72?

18. What was Woodstock? Did anyone attend?

19. What environmental celebration started in 1970 and continues to this day?

20. What was Laugh-In? Be on the look-out for the answers, on University of the Cumberlands' Alumni Facebook page @ucumberlands.alumni, and see how you did.

CUMBERLANDS ALUMNI MAGAZINE | 15

Honored Alumni

Cumberlands was proud to honor distinguished alumni, faculty, and staff during Homecoming weekend. Those honored have all showcased their talents and skills, both at Cumberlands and in other worthwhile endeavors. They have all proven their devotion to attaining excellence, serving others, and upholding the university's core values.

Distinguished Alumni Dr. Leslie Boozer, ’96, earned a bachelor’s degree with a double major in business administration and history/ political science from Cumberlands.

She went on to receive her Juris Doctor (JD) from University of Cincinnati, her Master of Education (EdM) in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University, and a Doctor of Education (EdD) from Harvard University in their Urban Superintendents Program. Dr. Boozer currently serves as chair of the Department of Leadership Studies and Professor of Practice at the University of San Diego. Her work is anchored in her experience as an urban schools practitioner, researcher, and leader. Her research topics include educational policy, leading for social justice and equity, K-12 leadership and change management in urban and suburban school districts, and conflict resolution and human resource management.

Distinguished Alumni Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Holbrook, ’02, was among the first class of ROTC cadets at Cumberland College when 16 | FALL 2023

the program was reestablished in 1998.

LTC Holbrook is currently serving as the chief of operations for the 9th Mission Support Command. He completed his bachelor’s degree at Cumberlands and was commissioned at his graduation ceremony in May 2002. He served two combat tours in Iraq (2003-2004 and 2005-2006). Throughout his time in the U.S. Army, LTC Holbrook has held many prestigious positions commanding battalions, managing operations, and more. After his promotion to lieutenant colonel, he served as deputy commander of the 206th RSG from 2021 to summer 2022, before receiving the rare honor of selection to attend the US Army War College as a resident student, graduating with a master’s degree in strategic studies in 2023. LTC Holbrook was honored with a Bronze Star Medal in 2004. He has received four Meritorious Service Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, and two Army Achievement Medals throughout his time in service. He is also a valued member of the Army Engineer Association and the Army War College Alumni Foundation.

Distinguished Alumni John Hughes, ’18, earned his degree in political science with a minor in business administration. In 2019, he served as the legislative liaison for the Kentucky Attorney General, handling coordination between the Attorney General’s Office and the General Assembly. His biggest accomplishment during this role was advocating for the General Assembly for passage of the establishment of the Opioid Abatement Commission. He worked closely with Attorney General Daniel Cameron during the primary campaign, serving as campaign manager and political director. He was also a staff assistant for the Speaker of the House of Representatives and a regional political director for Andy Barr during his 2018

reelection campaign. Currently, John serves as the Public Affairs Manager for the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, lobbying the General Assembly on behalf of Chamber members. His portfolio consists of education, small business, and tort reform issues.

Honorary Doctorate George Ellis, MD, was presented with an honorary degree for his many accomplishments. He enrolled at Cumberland College (a two-year college), graduating in 1956. Dr. Ellis went on to graduate from Berea College with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry in 1958. He married that same year and attended the University of Louisville School of Medicine, graduating in 1962 with his Doctor of Medicine degree. In 1963, Dr. Ellis was drafted and served in the US Air Force as chief of advanced medicine in their Medical Services Section and as branch chief of Medical and Surgical Section before his honorable discharge in 1965. Roughly one week after his discharge from the USAF, he opened a private medical practice in Old Fort, NC, which was incorporated in 1971 as Old Fort Medical Clinic. Delivering more than 3,000 babies, Dr. Ellis worked at the clinic until his retirement in 2003. He continued working in a hospital-owned clinic until 2007, fully retiring at age 70. Dr. Ellis was an active member of the North Carolina State Medical Society, the McDowell County Medical Society, and was a Certified Board Member of the American Academy of Family Practice. For decades, he has also been heavily involved in his community and church, which he continues in his retirement. He and his wife live in Old Fort, North Carolina.

Honorary Doctorate Hal Moses, MD, was presented with an honorary degree for his many accomplishments. He attended Cumberland College when it was a two-year school, graduating in 1956.

He and George Ellis attended Berea College together. Dr. Moses completed his Bachelor of Arts from Berea College in 1958 and his Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Vanderbuilt University in 1962. Dr. Moses led the cancer research team at Vanderbilt which discovered in 1984 that there is a naturally-produced protein in human bodies which slows the growth of cancer – changing the landscape of cancer research for decades. He has received more than two dozen honors for his work in medicine, leadership, and cancer research over the decades, contributed to 350 scientific publications, presented his work in 40 states and 22 countries, served as the founding director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, founded and directed the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories, and more. Now happily retired, and living in Nashville, TN, Dr. Moses and his wife enjoy spending quality time with their family and traveling around the world.

Student Government Association Honored Faculty and Staff Awards The Male Honored Professor was presented to Dr. Chin Tan, ’87 beloved business professor and head coach for the Patriots men's and women's tennis teams The Female Honored Professor was presented to Dr. Jolly Sharp, ’74. She is in her 33rd year of teaching English. Finally, the Honored Staff Member for 2023 was presented to Corey Ruff, head coach for men's wrestling. Awards were presented

by SGA President Lauryn Purda and VicePresident Anne Ngarhasta

Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame

Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame

Don Butcher attended Auburn University and later Georgetown College. In 1988, Randy Vernon, head men’s basketball coach at Cumberlands, was desperate for an assistant coach, and Don was frantically searching for a job. Don was hired and remained part of the program for 32 years, including 21 years as head coach. Under his leadership, the team had 16 NAIA Tournament appearances, 452 wins (Don ranks 2nd in Patriots history for men’s basketball wins), and a .680 winning percentage. The team won MSC Regular Season Champion in 2003 and MSC Tournament Champion in 2009 and 2012. Don was voted MSC Coach of the Year for three separate seasons. He retired in August 2021. Don and his wife Bonnie still live in Williamsburg, Kentucky. Since retirement, Don has enjoyed more time hunting, fishing, and golfing.

Marla Harris, '05 has always had a love for volleyball, and her passion for the sport helped her earn a volleyball scholarship to complete higher education at Cumberlands. During her volleyball career with the Patriots, Marla won MSC All-Conference honors four times, was a 3-time MSC First-Team All-Conference selection, and was the first in program history to be named an NAIA AllAmerican Honorable Mention (2004). Her Cumberlands records include ranking 2nd in single season hitting percentage (.398), 2nd in career kills (1,685), 3rd in career kills per set (3.1), 3rd in single season kills (523) (averaged 3.94 kills per set), and 4th in career blocks (445). Marla moved back to her hometown after graduation and is raising one son while working as a healthcare professional. She has helped coach park & rec basketball and has begun coaching in the Tri-City Volleyball League.

Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame Whitney Piar Cruver, ’08 earned allstate honors for softball all four years of her high school career before continuing her softball career at UC and earning MSC Pitcher of the Year (2008) and MSC All-Conference honors three years. Her Cumberlands records include 1st in career wins (45), 1st in strikeouts (598), 2nd in appearances (98), 2nd in innings (567.2), 6th in career ERA (2.35), and currently holds the 2nd (183), 3rd (181), and 4th (169) most strikeouts in a single season.

After graduating from Cumberlands in 2008, Whitney married fellow UC graduate Desmond Cruver, ’09, in 2010, and they are now raising their three children in Danville, KY. Whitney coaches her daughters’ softball team and is the head softball coach at Danville High School. She also helps her family’s business outside of sports and actively serves in her church.

Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame Wendall Williams, ’15 came to Cumberlands to continue his careers in football and track & field. As a Patriot, he was a 6-time NAIA All-American (5 track & field, 1 football), received 5 MSC titles in 2015 (including Athlete of the Year – and leading NAIA football with 32.4 yards average per return), and was a 2-time MSC All-Conference pick. His Cumberlands records include ranking 1st in career kickoff returns for a touchdown (4), 1st in single game kickoff returns for a touchdown (2), 1st in return yards in a single game (287), and both 1st and 2nd for return yards in a season. Following graduation, Wendall played in the NFL for two seasons before switching his career due to a shoulder surgery necessitated by an in-game injury. He is now an entrepreneur and business owner.

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Growth Mindset It was photo day in preschool, and Dan Stack, ’11, was the only kid who showed up in his Sunday best, complete with a red blazer. He (and his parents) knew then that he was destined for work in sales.

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Today, Dan is senior vice president for national accounts and strategic partnerships at Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC, the largest furniture retailer in North America and largest furniture manufacturer in the world.1 He oversees the relationships between AFI and its partners around America. But if you had told him in college that he would be an SVP overseeing a team in charge of a billion dollars in annual retail sales, he’s certain that he and his professors would’ve had a good laugh.

“I wasn’t a traditional student. I was hyperactive and struggled in the classroom,” Dan said. “But the discipline that my coursework, wrestling, and work experience at Cumberlands taught me really benefited my personal and professional development.”

Dan exudes energy, positivity, and professionalism. He’s grounded in his principles, and he holds to them firmly.

It’s a mindset thing Dan learned three life lessons in his time at Cumberlands that have greatly impacted his life ever since: growth is not always comfortable, deadly honesty in all pursuits is imperative, and humility is key. To him, especially once you are placed in a leadership position, it’s vital to determine your core set of principles and the philosophy of your life. His principles have guided every aspect of his life as an adult.

“You have to know what’s important to you, and you have to make your yes mean yes and your no mean no,” Dan said. “The Bible talks about that specifically, that you judge a tree by the fruit it bears. I think that, if you’re not honest, your tree will be barren.

But a person with integrity will bear good fruit.”

He added, “You have to have a growth mindset. You need to make sure you’re not just keeping up with the industry, you’re setting the pace. If you’re not growing, you’re going.”

One of the keys to keeping Dan focused on growth, integrity, and honesty has been guidance from his mentors. When people have deep experience in a field and are willing to make time to hop on a phone call, grab a coffee, or even sit and talk for just a few minutes after a meeting to impart their knowledge to you, you pay attention. In Dan’s experience, it’s easier than you might think to build a small group of mentors who can check in on you and answer questions when you face a challenge. Mentorship can get you back on track, give you new ideas, and prevent you from facing unnecessary obstacles.

It’s Not What You Think His career certainly has grown – from working as an account executive at CBS Radio in 2007 to serving as a senior vice president for a leading furniture company worldwide. But, particularly for young people, Dan has a message: Management in executive leadership is not what you think it is.

He explained, “There’s not an ivory tower you shout commands from. We’re all individual contributors. We all have projects that we own and execute. You have to have a dirty fingernail approach, be willing to get in the weeds, work hard, stay humble, and expect what you inspect. It’s a team approach.”

Additionally, though it seems counterintuitive, a good sales worker doesn’t try to sell things. Because, really, nobody wants to be sold to – they need a partnership that benefits them. To develop a mutually beneficial partnership, you have to be a subject matter expert, understanding what they need and what you have to offer that will meet those needs.

“You’ve gotta get your 10,000 hours. I firmly believe that,” said Dan, quoting a theory posited by author Malcolm Gladwell on how to become an expert in a skill.2 For perspective, working a 40hour work week for 50 weeks out of the year means it would take just under five years to accumulate. It was true for Dan. He said, “It was right around year four or five for me and my team at Ashley that things started really clicking.”

So, What Now? Among other accolades, Dan was invited to help teach a Masterclass for online retailers a few years ago, and he was recognized in April this year as one of the Most Powerful People in REM (Retail E-Commerce Marketing) by the REM Council.3 Though it’s a lot of work (including 100 – 150 days a year traveling), he genuinely enjoys it.

“I knew during the salary negotiation part of my onboarding with Ashley that it was kind of a joke. I would’ve come here and worked for free,” he said. “I love what I do! It’s fun to me.”

So, he’s staying where he is for now. But with his mind firmly set on growth, it’s safe to say the job will never be “same old, same old.” He’s here for the new ideas, challenges, and solutions, no matter where it takes him and his team.

“I usually keep three or four guys in my life who I consider mentors. Mentorship has been essential as far as my career growth goes.”

1 https://www.ashleyfurnitureindustriesllc.com/en/company/company-overview 2 https://www.businessinsider.com/malcolm-gladwell-explains-the-10000-hour-rule-2014-6 3 https://www.remcouncil.org/dan-stack CUMBERLANDS ALUMNI MAGAZINE | 19

One Saturday in the late fall of 1959, six-year-old Robert E. Moehling sat at the corner of a local street and attempted to sell some of the leftover cucumbers from his father’s crop. The day passed, and nobody even stopped. Robert’s dad had the idea of painting a sign for the boy to sit by, thinking maybe the people driving past hadn’t seen little Robert on the corner. So, the next day, he painted the words “Robert is Here” in big red letters on an old hurricane shutter, which he placed at the end of Robert’s table. Before noon, Robert had sold out.

Almost 70 years later, Robert is Here Fruit Stand and Farm sits on that same corner and is a favorite local market and tourist destination in Homestead, Florida, on the road to Everglades National Park. Robert is Here is heralded as one of the best fruit stands in the country, earning a label as “the Disney World of fruit stands.”1 Robert E. Moehling still runs the place, and his family joins him, including Robert K. Moehling, ’08, his wife Anna (Clemenz) Moehling, ’07, Brandon Moehling, ’06, and his wife Heather (Skaggs) Moehling, ’07.

The family specializes in exotic tropical fruits, local vegetables, and fresh fruit milkshakes and smoothies. Think guanabanas, carambolas, guavas, dragon fruits, papayas, and (Robert E.'s favorite) mangoes. Robert is Here also sells staple items like watermelons, bananas, carrots, corn, and lettuce, among other products like juice, sauces, and salsa. The bulk of what they sell is grown on their own farmland, but they also purchase from about 50 local farmers.

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“I always knew I would work at the fruit stand.

I started working when I was 11 and quickly realized it was too unique of a story to let die after my father’s generation.”

Robert E.

“I 'railed against' working for the fruit stand while I was in college, but in the end, I am doing what I am supposed to do: carrying on the family legacy.”

Brandon

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“There is a sense of pride from knowing that we are helping keep agriculture alive in South Florida. People love to buy local, and we are able to support that because there is always something in season."

Heather Notably, this family-owned and operated business is a zero-waste operation; even the cups for the milkshakes and smoothies are made from biodegradable materials.

“All of our produce is either sold, cut for milkshakes, donated, or fed to our farm animals,” said Anna. “Even our tropical fruit seeds are sold to local nurseries. When possible, we like to sell local produce when it’s in season.”

The whole Moehling family (minus the grandchildren – for now) work at the fruit stand and farm: Brandon and Robert are both co-chief operating officers; Heather is director of human resources, public relations, and marketing; and Anna is director of finance and operations.

Life for the Moehlings is never boring. In Heather’s words, it’s like “being on for a show every day” because they set up displays, educate their customers on new foods (and sometimes local attractions, if they’re tourists), and advertise the business, along with many other tasks.

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With the fruit stand being open year-round – the only two exceptions are Thanksgiving and Christmas – and farming being a fulltime job on its own, it’s an understatement to say the family stays busy.

“The customers only see our store,” Robert explained, “but the farm is a constant work in progress. We are constantly battling weather, inflation, and equipment issues.

There is no such thing as a day off for the farm. When working with perishable produce, there are variables that require constant attention.”

Working with family has unique rewards and challenges.

“We are blessed to work side by side with our families, but it is difficult to separate work and family life,” Anna said. “Often discussions at holidays find their way to work topics.”

But the family finds ways to adjust to meet each other’s needs. For instance, they have devised a schedule to split as many of the

hours and responsibilities as possible so they can have more quality, non-workrelated family time. The way they see it, when running a family business, time off is not always guaranteed, but it’s important to do the best they can.

During the store’s busiest time of year (between Christmas and Easter), Robert is Here has anywhere from 10,000 to 12,000 customers a week. The slowest season brings in 5,000 to 6,000. And the numbers are growing due to land development in the area.

“The area of south Miami-Dade County is experiencing a real estate boom unlike almost anywhere else in the country; farmland is now selling upwards of $1,000,000 per acre,” Robert said. “Farmers are selling land that has been farmed for generations, and the farms are being replaced with high-density housing on the land. The county is landlocked, and our area is the only place left to build.”

Heather added, “Right now the challenge

“We have daily access to some of the most unique and exotic tropical fruits, plus milkshakes and smoothies. Our kids get to spend time in the animal farm and name the babies as they are born.

We interact with people from all over the world. It is a joy to see a customer’s face when they walk into our fruit stand and see fruit they haven’t seen since they left their home country many years ago.”

Anna for our company is finding a balance with incoming development in a rapidly growing state and maintaining our small-town charm. We are also trying to find the most responsible and intelligent way to scale our business.”

Having too many customers is a good problem to have, but it’s still one that needs solved so they all have pleasant experiences. Too many people means too much traffic, too few parking spaces, and too long of a wait in line, unless the Moehling family finds – or creates – sustainable solutions.

“There is a feeling of flying by the seat of your pants at all times,” said Brandon. “Since day two of the business in 1959, we have always been busy. Every day has been earned on this corner, and little to no planning went into everything that happens. We have always just tried to do the next right thing.”

Guanabana Fruit Milkshake

Robert is Here keeps their milkshakes simple and true; there are no other ingredients besides ice cream and fruit. Though there are many fruits to choose from and dozens of possible combinations (you can pick up to three fruits per shake), there is one option that's debatably the most fun to say: the guanabana fruit milkshake.

Anna said, "The guanabana melts in your mouth like cotton candy. It tastes like a mixture of lychee, mangosteen, and pineapple." The largest one they have ever sold was approximately 18 pounds (pictured above). It has tremendous health benefits. Most notably it's cancer fighting properties.

So next time you find yourself in Florida, make your way to Robert is Here, order a guanabana fruit milkshake, and say hello to the Moehling Family.

It might be a tough ride, figuring out how best to operate the family business. But the Moehlings have faith in the process. As Anna put it, “We’ve worked through challenges in the past and have come out stronger together.” If they stick together, this new challenge will be no different.

robertishere.com

“For all the advancement we have seen in treatments and healthcare technology, we have not seen the same advancement in the business of healthcare, in transparency, or in healthcare literacy. Where there are problems in a system, there are opportunities.”

Eric Lowe, ’07, founded Aptiva Health (formerly Integrated Medical Solutions) in 2014 and has served as CEO for almost 10 years, during which time the company has opened eight clinics throughout Kentucky, plus a new corporate office in Louisville.

The company prides itself on “filling in the gaps” when it comes to the business of healthcare, for both providers and patients.

filling IN In addition to several other accomplishments, Eric took Commonwealth Billing, a full-service revenue cycle management company, to a successful exit in 2021 and has been mentoring young business owners and startup innovators, not to mention assisting in his local church. In addition, Eric led the launch of MPloy Analytics in 2023 and is working with a large international company and a regional healthcare organization to pilot this innovative software solution. He was selected as a Healthcare Hero by Business Insider in 2020 and named to Business Insider’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2021.

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Take Aptiva Health, for instance. The idea began when Eric’s best friend’s uncle, a physician in Louisville at the time, was looking to branch out and took a chance on Eric, a young businessman. As Eric looked at the market, he concluded that the business side of healthcare was, to put it bluntly, broken. He sees gaps between patients’ budgets, their understanding of their financial options concerning healthcare, and the healthcare providers and clinics themselves. Eric’s job as Aptiva Health’s CEO is to push forward the innovation, partnerships, and projects that fill in those gaps.

Eric’s experience with Aptiva Health is what he considers his most successful business years thus far, and they mark a certain shift in his entrepreneurial journey as his work gains momentum and recognition. But he hasn’t always succeeded.

“I think it is an injustice to any new entrepreneur to not hear about the failures in business. I have had several failures along the way, and if anyone in business tells you otherwise, they are either hiding something or are much luckier than I am.”

For instance, for the first six months after beginning Aptiva Health, he, his wife, and his business partner (the only three staff members at the time) didn’t pay themselves. Half a year of full-time work while using savings to survive isn’t usually someone’s idea of “success.” But consistency and work ethic won the day.

His ultimate goal behind entrepreneurship boils down to one thing: solving problems.

“Most of the ideas I have, or ventures in which I am involved, stem from problems I have encountered to which I cannot identify a viable solution,” Eric explained. “As I encounter more problems, inevitably, I find more opportunities for growth and innovation.”

“You have to show up, even when it’s difficult and the outlook is bleak,” said Eric. “There have been more than a handful of days where it seemed like my efforts were futile, but by staying consistent, I was able to make progress and continue to move forward. A good work ethic is also key. It doesn’t matter who you know, what you know, or how visionary you may be – if you don’t have the drive to get things done, success will be difficult to achieve.”

He began learning that at 15 years old, when he was working a lawncare and landscaping business with a friend who put the business at a much lower priority.

There were days Eric had to call angry customers to explain why he would be late or have to come another day because

his friend didn’t feel like working. It was incredibly stressful for a teenager, but it taught him valuable lessons that have stayed with him ever since.

The lessons he learned as a teenager at home, as a young adult at Cumberlands, and in the workforce post-graduation have compounded and are paying off. Eric still sees himself as being in the early stages of his entrepreneurial journey, with much he hopes to achieve. He has determined that, as long as the world keeps having problems, he’ll keep trying to create solutions. With that outlook, business will be booming for quite some time.

Since beginning Aptiva Health, Eric has also founded: VISIONARY CAPITAL

A medical funding company that has provided more than $8 million in surgeries for uninsured patients

INTREPID MANAGEMENT

A medical management and consulting company

MEDVOUCHER

The first online healthcare marketplace and app for direct sourcing of medical services for consumers

TED HOLDINGS

A commercial real estate holding company

DERBY CITY ESCAPE

For short-term rentals for Airbnb & VRBO

APTIVA HEALTH IMAGING

A free-standing outpatient imaging center with a second opening in December 2024 in Lexington, Kentucky Other Aptiva Health subsidiaries and affiliates

CUMBERLANDS ALUMNI MAGAZINE | 25

T W

A C H K

Former Corbin, Williamsburg Teacher appears on Wheel of Fortune during Teacher's Week Written by Trevor Sherman for News Journal in Corbin, KY. Reprinted with permission.

Fans of the popular game show Wheel of Fortune may have noticed a familiar face when they tuned in on Thursday, Oct. 5.

Sarah (Steely) Shelley, ’06, MAE ’09, is a Williamsburg native who is currently living in Ohio with her husband, John, also originally from the local area. Due to his service in the United States Army, the couple has lived in several different locations over the past 11 years, including Hawaii, Georgia and Indiana.

Sarah was a cheerleader at Williamsburg High School, and after graduating in 2002 she went on to dance at the University of the Cumberlands. She ended up earning her master’s degree at UC while she was a fourth-grade teacher in the Corbin Independent School system in 2009. Later that same year, she left Corbin Schools and returned to Williamsburg to teach preschool and coach cheerleading. Throughout all of this, she also worked as a dance instructor at the Gail Fredericks studio on Master Street in Corbin.

“It all happened while we were in the process of moving from Indiana to Ohio,” Shelley said of being notified that she was going to be appearing on the show.

Going back to the beginning of the process, she explained, “During covid, when we were teaching virtually from home, I saw that they were accepting virtual auditions to appear on Wheel of Fortune during Teacher’s Week, which is something that they do every year. I sent in a video in January of 2021.”

“I didn’t hear anything until April of this year,” Shelley said. “A few weeks before the invite, my husband was actually asking what ever happened with that situation, and then I got the e-mail. I was very excited.”

R

Shelley learned in May that she was a finalist to appear on the show. The official call inviting her and her husband to come out to Los Angeles for the taping came a few weeks later, in July.

“I had been to San Francisco previously, but this was our first time in LA,” Shelley said. “We got there the night before the taping, and our show was done fourth in a series of five tapings. My husband, because of his military service, got a special t-shirt. It was a superawesome experience from beginning to end. They made us feel like royalty the entire time.”

Shelley said that she was disappointed about the fact that longtime co-host Vanna White was sick, and could not be present for the tapings. She did describe host Pat Sajak as being “super nice,” however.

“We have watched the Wheel of Fortune our whole marriage. We watch it together, and try to compete with each other. Both of our kids learned their letters by watching the show.”

The Shelleys have two children – Rex, who is 6, and Sadie, 5.

Shelley did well on her national gameshow debut, managing to solve puzzles at the beginning and at the end of the show.

Although she did not walk away as the overall champion, she still won just over $6,000.

Shelley plans on being back in Whitley County this week to visit with friends and family. She was last in Williamsburg for Homecoming Week, and got to see many of her former students, now as high schoolers, at the football game between the Yellow Jackets and the Waggener Wildcats on Sept. 8.

Now that Shelley is employed as a middle school math teach at Middletown Christian School in Middletown, Ohio, she is hopeful that she can make it back home a little more often than she has managed to in previous years.

Photo: Carol Kaelson/Wheel of Fortune®/© 2023 Califon Productions, Inc. ARR. 26 | FALL 2023

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A shoulder to lean on When someone’s life has become more burdened than beautiful because of the physical pain they’re in, it’s time to call an expert. Year after year, hundreds of thousands of people around the country struggle through their daily lives with chronic debilitating pain caused by a car accident, sports injury, or other situation. When they choose to see a doctor about it, they’ve often reached a point of desperation.

They need to know that the doctor caring for them genuinely cares about them and has the experience necessary to help change their lives.

Dr. Charles “Christian” Key, ’02, has helped thousands of patients recover normal lives through his expertise in orthopedic surgery. He completed medical school at the University of Kentucky in 2007 before beginning active duty in the U.S. Army. During this time, Christian completed his orthopedic surgery residency in the Army at Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon, Georgia, in 2012. From there, he deployed to Afghanistan in 2012-2013 as an orthopedic surgeon in the Forward Surgical Team at FOB Salerno. He finished up his time in the military as the Chief of Surgery at Fort Knox. Today, he works as an orthopedic surgeon in Danville, Kentucky.

Tell us about your career.

to deal with as a provider.

I am a general orthopedic surgeon, but the majority of my practice focuses on the treatment of shoulder injuries. I have been involved in the care of thousands of patients. As an athlete and a scientist, I just always had an interest in sports medicine and how the body worked. I also enjoyed the straight forwardness of orthopedics within the medical world. In orthopedics, we generally deal with “fixable” problems such as broken bones and torn ligaments/ tendons that we can definitively treat.

On the flip side, the most rewarding part of the job is giving people their quality of life back. I love being able to take a patient’s pain away by helping them heal and get back to walking, exercising, and being able to spend quality time with family again. Sometimes, an injury is so debilitating that the person is prevented from doing daily activities and even from sleeping. Being able to restore their ability to get a good night’s rest is one of my favorite things to do.

What is the most challenging and rewarding part of your job?

The most challenging part is when there are no good answers for people with very difficult orthopedic conditions. Sometimes we just do not have great surgical or medical solutions to people’s problems, and it is always very difficult to tell people there is nothing you can do to help them. It is also difficult when a patient has an outcome that neither you nor the patient wanted or anticipated. In medicine, things do not always go as planned, and that is a very hard thing

Tell us about your time in the Army It was a short part of my career, but taking care of soldiers at home and abroad was one of the most rewarding things I will ever do. I remember many young American and Afghan soldiers injured in the war that we helped. I feel like our surgical team was able to save many of these young soldiers’ lives and was able to preserve many of their limbs. The faces of some of these soldiers are forever ingrained in my mind. Their courage in the face of extreme adversity is a daily inspiration to me to get out of bed and to try to make a difference. I feel

blessed to have been able to do a small part to support these soldiers while I was in the Army.

What are some lessons you learned as a student that have impacted your life?

Between my biology major, chemistry minor, and running for both cross country and track and field, I learned the value of time management and hard work. I’m sure many student-athletes can relate. I got up before dark to put extra miles in with the track team every morning, and we had daily afternoon practice.

We were also gone most weekends to meets. I had a challenging academic schedule as well, so I remember spending a lot of time studying and doing work on buses or while sitting under a tree waiting to compete at track meets. The time management skills and discipline I learned at Cumberlands served me well in medical school and continue to serve me in my career.

CUMBERLANDS ALUMNI MAGAZINE | 29

PHISHING_WITH

Josh

cards compromised and money Sometimes it’s text messages that come debit stolen from our accounts through no fault from trusted stores warning you that your credit card number may have been stolen by hackers – and if you click this link, you can see whether your information was compromised. But it’s the link you just clicked that has now compromised you.

Other times, it’s a budding Facebook romance between a scammer and a woman whose husband just passed away.

Things go swimmingly, and then the guy asks for money, so she sends it to save the relationship. But the money was the point all along.

And if the scammer is particularly heartless, they will call your sweet, old, retired grandmother. They’re extremely sorry to inform her that one of her grandchildren has outstanding payments that require legal action if not paid today.

She sends the money. Later, the man calls to ensure she made it home from the bank safely. What a sweetheart! Except her grandchild was never in trouble, and now she’s out thousands of dollars while living on a fixed income.

Josh Coffman, ’19, hears cases like these and many more as the senior vice president and IT security officer at Hometown Bank in Corbin, KY. “Helping the public understand the fraudulent scams and social engineering tactics used by scammers is the hardest part of my job, but also the most enjoyable,” said Josh. “Anyone can be a target. My wife and I have both had our 30 | FALL 2023

of our own or the bank. That grandmother story was my grandmother. Hackers are getting craftier. It’s critical to stay vigilant.”

Josh does all he can to ensure that the employees at Hometown Bank don’t get duped. He’s part of a network of IT professionals who check in with each other about the latest scams and newest technology. He emails employees tutorials on how to recognize phishing schemes, sometimes sending phishing emails to see who clicks on the link. Every month, he records “Phishing with Josh,” a brief video for Hometown Bank’s social media to help customers stay current. He also provides quarterly training to employees, and more.

“We want people to be aware of what’s out there,” he said, “and what to do if you’re a victim of it. There isn’t a certain age group who’s most at risk. It just depends on if people have been educated.”

Over the last 15 years, as Josh has worked in IT, he has seen a continual increase of cybercrime – and it’s only getting worse.

He sees the victims and the amount of money lost. And ever since he, his wife, and his grandma were all victims, he has a little more skin in the game.

“The hard thing is, we’re trying to fight against this, but scammers are always one step ahead of us,” Josh said. "The easier technology gets to use, our guard goes down. Just stay vigilant, and if anything feels off, take a step back.”

In the end, when it comes to protecting each other against fraud and cybercrime, it’s a cheesy catchphrase, but it’s true: We’re all in this together. Josh’s main goal is to protect the money of the employees where he works, his family, and his friends.

Sometimes it’s a lot to handle, but he knows it’s worthwhile, and he’s happy to do it.

Josh's

Phishing_Tips

_ If someone claims to be somebody, hang up and call that person or business directly.

Even if it sounds exactly like someone you know, but it's from a different number, it could be artificial intelligence. Just hang up and call them from the number you know is real.

_ Don't click on links in texts or emails. _ NOBODY is giving you free money, so don't believe anyone who says you can keep some if you send them the rest.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT Emily Leach, ’24, was raised in Williamsburg, Kentucky, so she was determined to attend any college except Cumberlands. She was way too familiar with the school for it to seem exciting to her as a teenager. Who wants “High School 2.0” for four years?

Emily is now a senior at the school she never thought she would attend. Fortunately, she has greatly enjoyed the journey and even plans on earning her master’s degree from Cumberlands in either artificial intelligence or data science. She wants to become a software engineer.

“I have always liked to create things,” Emily said. “In software engineering, you get to create new systems, design new webpages, things like that. You’re constantly creating solutions to problems. I love that.”

Her extended family always said, “You’re so smart, you should become a doctor,” so that’s what Emily assumed she should become. But in high school, she leaned toward IT. The clincher was a random Buzzfeed quiz about what career you should have.

It seems silly, but when her results page said, “You should be a software engineer!” It was the thing she needed to make up her mind. Emily switched her biology major to an IT major and never looked back. It hasn’t always been what she expected, though.

“I thought I would just write code all day long. Um, no,” said Emily. “I mean, yes, you write code, but you also have to explain to people why it’s doing what it’s doing. You have to learn people skills, which I wasn’t expecting, but it’s been one of the best parts.

When you’re working with other people, especially if they’re more skilled than you, you get to learn a lot.”

Much of what Emily has learned through her IT experience relates to the rest of her life, which she believes has made her a more well-rounded person.

“In IT, nothing is ever perfect. If you’re a perfectionist like I was, that will mess with you for a bit, but ultimately it’s a good thing to learn,” she said. “Another thing is procrastination. I used to be the worst. I was the student who at 11:58 was submitting a fourpage paper that I had started 30 minutes before. But when you’re writing code for an IT class, if you're not actively working and breaking stuff down into steps, you could think that you're writing perfect code and then move into testing, and you've got a million bugs or syntax errors. You also learn to work under pressure and work on a deadline. Oh, and since there’s so much to IT, you need to be humble. If you walk into a new job and you’re super cocky, people are gonna be like, ʻDude, you need to chill.’ The work will humble you.”

Between classes and homework, music rehearsals and concerts, an IT internship, doctor visits for a newly diagnosed condition, and time with her family and her boyfriend, Emily’s college career has been packed. But she wouldn’t change it for the world. She learned time management fast (and has been able to maintain a high GPA because of it), and she got to make a lot of friends through her different social circles, which she’s loved.

Now all that’s left is finishing her classes strong. With the last three years as evidence, if anyone can get it done, it’s Emily.

CUMBERLANDS ALUMNI MAGAZINE | 31

CLASSNOTES INTERNATIONAL AWARD Dr. Nikhitha Yathiraju, PhD ’22, won the 2023 International Best Researcher Award from the International Society for Scientific Network (ISSN). A major component in the judges’ decision was a research paper entitled “The Impact and Limitations of Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity: A Literature Review,” which Dr. Yathiraju co-authored with fellow Cumberlands alumni Dr. Bibhu Dash, PhD ’22, and Dr. Meraj Farheen Ansari, PhD ’21, and doctoral student Pawankumar Sharma.

The ISSN awards are some of the biggest international research awards. Per the ISSN Awards website, award nominees are elected by their peers, and awards are decided by esteemed professionals who offer “independent, objective advice to the world on matters related to science and technology.” The ISSN’s mission is to “recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, medicine” and more.

“I feel incredible receiving the prestigious ISSN 2023 International Best Researcher Award for the field of Information technology, AI in Cloud ERP Technologies, and Cybersecurity,” said Dr. Yathiraju. “This recognition fuels my passion to continue pushing boundaries, innovating, and delivering excellence in the industry.”

Dr. Yathiraju currently works as a lead automation engineer for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Earlier in

2023, she was featured in the International Business Times and LatestLY for her work implementing technology in global industries over the years. She participated as an industry expert and judge for the international Globee® Awards and published numerous scholarly research papers covering the topics of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, big data, the Metaverse, fintech, Internet of Things, data mining, and more. She was also recently one of the key members of a patent filing, the focus of which is to reduce the workload placed on Human Resources professionals.

JOIN US ON THE ROAD December 14, 2023

Basketball vs. Northern Kentucky University Gathering

February 17, 2024

Basketball vs. Georgetown Gathering For more information, or to host a Cumberlands on the Road event, email alumni@ucumberlands.edu

32 | FALL 2023

Johnson, ’80

Thompson, ’86

Graves, ’97

Woodard, ’05

1980s

2000s

Nita (Bailey) Johnson, ’80, was selected as the Laurel County Homcoming's 2023 Woman of the Year. A 20year veteran of London's Sentinel Echo, she has dedicated herself to publicizing and promoting the events and news for London and Laurel County, her hometown.

She also was named Reporter of the Year in 2020 by owning corporation, Community Newspaper Holdings Inc., an Alabama-based media company which owns 170 newspapers in 22 states. Nita has also earned numerous awards for writing and photography in the Kentucky Press Association's annual contest. She has two children, six grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and a greatgrandson expected in September.

Paul Woodard, ‘05, was voted 2024 teacher of the year at his high school alma mater, New Smyrna Beach High School, Florida.

Lawrence "BT" Thompson, ’86, is making waves in the field of education and community relations as the education strategy manager for the city of Fort Worth, TX. Since taking on this role in 2021, Thompson has been focused on enhancing educational opportunities by forming strategic partnerships with the 15 school districts in the city.

2010s

Bob Derr, ’87, underwent a successful double lung transplant in January 2023! Good recovery and recently returned to work.

Greg Huff, ’89, retired from the Laurel County School District (Kentucky) on June 30, 2023. He served as a high school English teacher, an assistant principal at two schools, and the head principal of one. Also retired, in 2007, from the United States Army Reserves after twentythree years of service.

Tocarra Montgomery, ’06, ran an all-girls' wrestling camp for Manchester Wrestling Club in August 2023. She hosts wrestling clinics throughout the year.

Montgomery was also recently recognized as a Distinguished Member of the Class of 2024 for The National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Jacob Ball, ‘15, an agriculture teacher at Carter G. Woodson Academy in Lexington, KY, received a national Milken Educator Award for the 2023-2024 year. Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley, Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman, and Interim Commissioner of Education Robin Fields Kimney presented him with this prestigious honor at a school wide assembly before cheering students, colleagues, dignitaries, and media. Jacob’s event is part of a historic nationwide Milken Educator Awards season which will honor up to 75 recipients with the Milken Educator Award. The Milken Educator Awards were created in 1987 by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken. The Awards represent the nation’s preeminent teacher recognition program, often hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching.”

2020s

1990s Kasee Clifton Laster, ‘90, recently received one of five university-wide Teaching Excellence Awards from the University of North Georgia this fall at their faculty-staff convocation. She is currently a senior lecturer at the Oconee campus.

Daniel Hunt, ‘20, has joined University of Louisville Health as the digital talent marketing strategist.

Jonathan Laster, ‘91, has joined the real estate transaction and litigation firm Rubin Lubin LLC in Peachtree Corners.

Bridget Graves, ’97, was inducted into the 2023-2024 class of the Morristown-Hamblen High School West, Tennessee, Trojan Army Hall of Fame.

Montgomery, ’06

Ball, ’15

Hunt, ’20

CUMBERLANDS ALUMNI MAGAZINE | 33

oh baby!

Colleen McDaniel, ‘07, welcomed Oakren Arthur on March 16, 2023.

Jordan Jeffers, ‘10, and his wife welcomed their baby boy Owenn Navy, on March 24, 2023.

Mary Beth (Lee) Fisher, ‘13, MAEd, ’18, Rank 1 ’21, and Jacob Fisher, ‘21, welcomed their baby girl, Eden, on July 3, 2023.

Kristen (Keller) Thompson, ’14, and her husband welcomed their baby girl, Charlotte Marie, on November 25, 2022.

Michael Hamblin, ’17, and Rebekka (Bargo) Hamblin, ’17, welcomed their daughter, Josalyn, on February 10, 2022.

Alysia (Baker) Padgett, ’19, and Tyler Padgett, ’17, welomed their baby boy, Silas Ray, on February 9, 2023.

Brianna (Grooms) Sexton, ’17, and her husband welcomed their baby girl, Amelia Rose, on February 4, 2023.

34 | FALL 2023

i do.

Caroline (Johnson) Trapp, ‘14, and Jacob Trapp were married at Walt Disney World on November 25, 2022.

Cassidy (Howard) Blankenship, ‘23, and Thor Blankenship were married on July 28, 2023.

Chloe (Istre) Wheeler, ‘23, and Trenton Wheeler, ‘19, MBA, ’21 were married on September 8, 2023.

Preston Miller, ‘23, and Abby (Elam) Miller, ’23 were married on June 3, 2023.

Jake Singleton, ’20, and Anne (Russell) Singleton, ’20, met at the beginning of their freshman year in music theory class. Despite his musical genius, Jake ended the class after a couple months, but he and Anne stayed in touch. Neither of them majored in music, but they continued in musical activities such as choir, marching band, Spotlight (which Anne won in 2017), worship teams, and so forth during college.

Anne said, “What stood out to me about Jake was his kindness, quirkiness, and of course his insane guitar skills!”

For Jake, what stood out about Anne was that “she’s very smart, she would laugh at my jokes…” (for those who don’t know, Jake is the king of puns) “…and that she had the best singing voice I’d ever heard.”

Cumberlands ^^Couple ouple

Their first date was kind of a marathon – which, since Jake ran cross country for Cumberlands and ran marathons for fun, was par for the course. They went on a hike at Eagle Falls, then cleaned up and went to dinner, followed by for late night coffee and board games.

They got married on May 30, 2020, just a few months into the COVID-19 pandemic. They had their wedding at Cornerstone Community Church in Williamsburg, KY, where they both attended church throughout college and had served on the worship team.

“Due to COVID restrictions, the wedding was nothing like how we expected or planned,” Anne said. “It was a total of 25-30 people, just us, the pastor, our wedding party, our immediate family, and a few people helping out behind the scenes with music, etc. But we enjoyed our smaller, more intimate day!”

Jake and Anne graduated, got married, and moved to Knoxville all in May 2020. Since then, Jake has worked as a brewer at Smoky Mountain Brewery, and Anne has worked as a case manager at Cherokee Health Systems. Outside of this, they perform as the musical duo “The Singletons,” play as much as they can in Knoxville and surrounding areas.

Check them out!

inglet on

Jake S & l) l e s s ne (Ru

An

@TheSingletons on Instagram The Singletons on Facebook

CUMBERLANDS ALUMNI MAGAZINE | 35

IN MEMORIAM e The following members of the Cumberlands family have passed away since the publication of our last magazine. We send our thoughts and prayers to their families and will forever remember their impact on the Cumberlands community.

ALUMNI Anna (Ragan) Young, ’41, passed on August 17, 2023.

Suzanne (Johnstone) Dehm, ’49, passed on July 4, 2023.

Lena (Tye) Douglas, ’51, passed on June 22, 2023.

Barbara (Ellison) Wasano, ’55, passed on July 20, 2023.

Robert E. Arnett, ’57, passed on July 31, 2023.

Elizabeth (Wassum) Hall, ’58, passed on July 15, 2023.

Janet (Bondurant) Slay, ’59, passed on June 19, 2023.

James E. Wallace, ’61, passed on June 24, 2023.

Shelby (Thurston) Pennington, ’61, passed on June 22, 2023.

Sandra (Marple) Rhoads, ’63, passed on April 19, 2023.

Lois Morgan, ’64, passed away on May 26, 2023.

Ebert Warren Jr., ’64, passed on April 10, 2023.

Dr. Eleazer Benenhaley, ’65, passed on August 29, 2023.

Sandra (Six) Harris, ’65, passed on September 14, 2023.

Jack B. Galbreath, ’67, passed on September 16, 2023.

36 | FALL 2023

Sue (Younce) Vaughan, ’66, passed on April 13, 2023.

Lisa (Porter) Oxendine, ’89, passed on July 29, 2023.

Earnestine (Fields) Mcintyre, ’67, passed on June 1, 2023.

Megan (Adams) Burton, ’13, passed on February 18, 2023.

Jack H. Robbins, ’67, passed on June 5, 2023.

Dr. Jason S. Ivey, ’06, Ed.D, ’13, passed on July 14, 2023.

Mary Lou (Cobb) Beasley, ’70, passed on July 6, 2023.

Randy S. Byrum, ’14, passed on September 6, 2023.

Willard H. Farris, ’70, passed on July 11, 2023.

Hunter Comer, ’17, passed on June 9, 2023.

Boyd W. Burkhart, ’72, passed away on September 1, 2023.

Maxwell Emerson, ’21, passed on July 5, 2023.

Ronald Ford, ’72, passed on May 29, 2023.

Robert W. Ruskaup, ’72, passed on August 27, 2023.

Linda (Ramsey) Ross, ’73, passed on January 29, 2023.

Reverend Isaiah Cotton, ’73, passed on February 16, 2023.

Linda (Ramsey) Ross, ’73, passed on January 29, 2022.

Kenneth Prater, ’74, passed on May 2, 2023.

Mary (Martin) Pennington, ’75, passed on September 15, 2023.

Dr. Alan Douglas Bryson, ’77, passed on July 3, 2023.

Karen Harp, ‘77, passed on May 2, 2023.

Barsha (Goins) Rogers, ’88, passed on April 12, 2023.

STAFF Paul Estes, ’56, passed on June 13, 2023.

He was elected for three terms as mayor of Williamsburg. He was also a dedicated member of the Cumberlands Board of Trustees for more than 40 years, and was awarded the honorary doctorate of laws in 2006 from the university.

Patty (Evans) Bryant, ’81, passed away April 11, 2023. Patty served as Director of Alumni Services from 1989 until 1993.

David Honeycutt, passed away July 20, 2023. David served as the Director of Mountain Outreach from 20022006. He and his wife, Belinda, were faithful servants to the mission of Cumberlands and those served by M.O. throughout the region.

Ms. Ida "Janie" Hall September 8, 1920 - January 9, 2008

The late Ms. Ida "Janie" Hall served Cumberlands from 1957-1988 (31 years!), impacting many young lives during her time at the school.

Throughout her years at Cumberlands, Ms. Hall taught courses over American history, the Old and New Testament, English composition, general psychology, and more. Outside of the college, she taught Sunday school classes at First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, of which she was an active member for more than 50 years. Ms. Hall was widely regarded as a highly moral, hardworking, and educated woman. Though she sometimes came across as strict, she loved her students and the Cumberlands community as a whole.

Ann (Gillfillan) Hanson, ’89, MA ’98 said, “She was a true staple of the campus and someone you’d never forget. I always thought she’d make a good children’s book character. A one-of-a-kind personality. And I’m sure if she was ever in a walking race, she would win every time.”

Her quick walk was known by all on campus. Alan Coppock, ’87 recalled, “One of the stories my father’s friend, an alumnus, told was of this female Bible professor, Ms. Hall, and how she walked faster than anyone on campus. When we arrived at Cumberland and took our campus tour, we walked across the viaduct and, standing at the end closest to the BCC, was Ms. Hall. He couldn’t believe our good fortune to actually meet and talk to the one professor he had described.”

Miss Hall grew up on a small farm in North Carolina with four sisters and a brother. She was a quiet child who took what she was taught about God to heart; she tried to always do the right thing, worked hard, preferred to approach life with optimism, and lived by faith.

One of her favorite quotes was, “Worry is like a rocking chair; keeps me busy but gets me nowhere.”

As her college students could have guessed, Miss Hall graduated valedictorian of her high school class. She completed her associate degree at Campbell College, received her bachelor’s from Wake Forest University, finished a Bachelor of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and finally earned a master’s degree in history from the University of Tennessee. In 1985, she was awarded the Distinguished Alumna Award from Campbell University. Two years later, she was elected by students at Cumberlands as one of two Honored Professors in the Homecoming parade. In 1990, she was featured in an article entitled “Through the ʻHalls’ of History” in Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s newsletter, Outlook. Ms. Hall was named an Honorary Alumnus of Cumberland College in 1991.

She never missed a chapel service (it was joked about that she had to keep an attendance card, just like the students), she would always say a polite “Hello” when she passed you on campus, she liked reading history books and listening to hymns, she regularly ate lunch in the campus cafeteria among other faculty and staff, and all knew she was unshakeable when it came to her Christian faith.

Though Ms. Hall was small in stature, she was mighty in spirit. She passed away in early 2008, her legacy of hard work, faith, and integrity lives on through her family, friends, colleagues, and past students.

CUMBERLANDS ALUMNI MAGAZINE | 37

|

THEN & NOW

|

Since Cumberlandsʼ founding in 1888, many things have changed about this institution in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. In this section, we peel back the layers of time for a glimpse at what life was like “back in the day” to see what is different – and what has stayed remarkably similar – from then to now.

Welcome to the Cumberlands building whose name is hardest to spell – the Luecker Building! And the building some students don’t know exists – its brother, the Luecker Annex!

The John T. Luecker Building and Luecker Annex were once the old Williamsburg City School. Cumberlands acquired and renovated them in 1983 and was ready to occupy them in 1984.

The John T. Luecker Building became the new home of the art, education, psychology, health, and sociology departments, as well as the Development offices. The old gymnasium of the school building was renovated to house the college's intramural offices and several other programs. The Luecker Annex, meanwhile, housed the Department of Business Administration and its faculty offices.

Though renovations significantly improved the buildings for college use, there are still some fun quirks left over from their past life that reveal their age and former functions. For example, anyone who has been into the Luecker Annex bathrooms knows their floors and walls are yellow tile. When you step through the doorway, it’s like walking into a yellow glow. This yellow-focused restroom design was popularized in the 1920s and continued through the 1960s. The Annex also has what might seem to be a hugely spacious classroom (or a really tiny auditorium) that now houses UCOMM (Office of University Communications and Marketing). But it makes total sense once you know that it used to be the city school's lunchroom. The John T. Luecker Building itself does not have as many apparent quirks, but it does have separate bathrooms that are were specifically for faculty members. One of the building’s prizes is the art gallery on the second floor.

38 | FALL 2023

Today, the Luecker Building still hosts three of its original departments: art, education, and health. The Luecker Annex, however, has undergone the most change. The Department of Business Administration and its faculty offices moved into the newly opened (and newly named) Hutton School of Business in 2004, leaving the Annex as a blank slate for new departments to move in. It now houses the Department of Psychology and UCOMM. Amanda Ellis, '02, reflects on two very different experiences she had as an undergraduate and then graduate business student at Cumberlands.

“When I went to Cumberlands, my business and accounting classes were in the old school building. The building was just plain with small classrooms and not updated with much. Everything in it was old. Then when I went back in ’09 for my Master of Business Administration, my classes were in the Hutton building. It was nicer, well lit, had updated technology, a large parking lot, and bigger classrooms. It was a huge upgrade!”

From business and accounting to art, education, HESS, and psychology, the Luecker Building and Annex have benefited the lives of thousands of students. These buildings might be hard to spell, but they’re easy to love.

“

We want all students to know that at Cumberlands there is a clear and affordable path to a college degree.

That’s the Cumberlands Commitment.”

-President Larry L. Cockrum

THAT’S THE

CUMBERLANDS COMMITMENT In 1887, a few men representing 18 churches came together and committed to do something once and for all to help fix the “brain drain” in their struggling Appalachian area. By the end of the following year, they had successfully pooled their ideas and resources and founded a two-year college called the Williamsburg Institute.

The first four graduates became a doctor, an attorney, an educator, and a minister, spending the rest of their lives meeting the needs of people in their communities physically, legally, educationally, and spiritually.

Today, that small college is known as University of the Cumberlands – one of the largest private universities in Kentucky. Since its beginning, Cumberlands has poured into students so students can pour into their families and communities.

The heart of the university rests on its original founding purpose: to provide a first-class education at rates within the means of the region’s young people. In other words, offering promising students of all backgrounds a well-rounded academic experience enriched with Christian values so they have what it takes to strive for excellence, lead with kindness, and give through service.

That’s what we do. That’s the Cumberlands Commitment. And, that is why we are embarking on the most ambitious project in the school’s history – a campaign to raise $200 million to support new student scholarships. The Cumberlands Commitment Scholarship Campaign seeks to ensure that the university’s on-campus undergraduate students are able to graduate from college with little to no debt.

The Cumberlands Commitment Scholarship Campaign seeks to raise $100 million from donors to increase scholarship opportunities.

The university is matching every donation received, dollar for dollar, bringing the total amount of investment in new student scholarships to $200 million.

Your support will impact students for generations to come. Time to make your Commitment to Cumberlands.

UCUMBERLANDS.EDU/COMMITMENT

NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID LOUISVILLE KY PERMIT #1225

Office of Alumni Services 6075 College Station Drive Williamsburg, KY 40769

ucumberlands.edu

CAMPUSSNAPSHOT